On Saturday, Real Madrid blew a chance to at least temporarily take over La Liga lead when it fell to Racing Santander, 2-1.

Two late penalties from Racing's Ezequiel Garay, the winner coming just seconds before the end of regulation time, ended an eight-game unbeaten streak for Real Madrid, which had defenders Ivan Helguera and Alvaro Mejia sent off in the final minutes of the game. La Liga Race (8 games to play):1. Barcelona 59 points; 2. Sevilla 55; 3. Real Madrid 54; 4. Valencia 53.

FRANCE Lyon remained just one win away from clinching a record sixth consecutive title after a 1-0 victory over lowly Sedan on 20-year-old Hatem Ben Arfa's goal -- just one of a record-low eight goals scored in Ligue 1 play over the weekend. Toulouse beat Auxerre, 2-0, to move into second place, while Lens' 0-0 tie at last-place Nantes eliminated it from contention. Lyon can seal the title when it plays Rennes on Wednesday. Ligue 1 Race (6 games to play): 1. *Lyon 69 points; 2. Toulouse 52. (Has game in hand.)

GERMANY The top four teams in the Bundesliga race stayed in the same places as they all won for the second week in a row. After completing a five-game suspension, Brazilian Lincoln celebrated his first game back with leader Schalke 04 by scoring the third goal in a 3-0 win at Mainz. German internationals Kevin Kuranyi and Gerald Asamoah also scored. Werder Bremen (2-0 over Borussia Dortmund), VfB Stuttgart (2-1 winner over Hannover) and Bayern Munich (2-1 winner over Bayer Leverkusen also won). Bundesliga Race (5 games to play). 1. Schalke 04 59 points; 2. Werder Bremen 57; 3. VfB Stuttgart 55; 4. Bayern Munich 53.

ITALY Inter Milan closed to within one win of being crowned champions of Serie A for the second consecutive season when it came from behind to draw, 2-2, with Palermo thanks to goals by Julio Cruz and Adriano after the break. Palermo dropped to fifth place -- out of the Champions League zone -- as AC Milan moved into fourth place for the first time this season with a 3-1 win over Messina thanks to goals by Kaka, Giuseppe Favalli and Ronaldo. Serie A Race (7 games to play): 1. Inter Milan 81 points; 2. Roma 65.